Test your basic knowledge |

Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






2. A group singing in unison.






3. A direction to play expressively.






4. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






5. A direction to play lively and fast.






6. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






7. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






8. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






9. A symbol indicating to play loud.






10. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






11. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






12. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






13. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






14. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






15. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






16. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






17. Lowest female singing voice.






18. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






19. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






20. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






21. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






22. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






23. A symbol indicating to play loud.






24. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






25. Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears the same importance.






26. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






27. A reprise.






28. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






29. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






30. A direction to play expressively.






31. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






32. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






33. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






34. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






35. The first violin in an orchestra.






36. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






37. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






38. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






39. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






40. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






41. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






42. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






43. A composition written for eight instruments.






44. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






45. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






46. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






47. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






48. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






49. A string of chords played in succession.






50. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.